Optical fiber termination

Abstract

An optical fiber termination in which a plastic clad optical fiber is pushed into a heated ferrule containing a pierced watch bearing jewel so as to force the bare fiber through the aperture in the jewel. The protruding fiber end is then fused and polished flush with the jewel whereby the fiber end is centered within the jewel aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of terminating a plastic clad optical fiber with a connector member of the type having a ferrule adapted to receive the clad fiber and a pierced watch bearing jewel mounted in the ferrule for locating a bared end of said fiber, the aperture through said watch jewel having an outer conical throat, comprising the steps of: heating said ferrule to the softening temperature of the plastic cladding of said fiber;   inserting said clad fiber into said ferrule so as to deform said plastic cladding until a bared end of said fiber protrudes through the aperture in said watch jewel;   cooling said ferrule and clad fiber;   fusing said protruding portion of said bared fiber so as to engage the wall of the jewel aperture and deforming said fused portion against said watch jewel to fill said conical throat to thereby center said bared fiber in said jewel aperture; and   machining said protruding portion of said bared fiber end flush with the outer surface of said watch jewel.   
     
     
       2. A plastic clad optical fiber termination comprising: a hollow cylindrical ferrule;   a pierced watch bearing jewel fixedly mounted at the forward end of said ferrule having an aperture therethrough coaxial with the center axis of said ferrule, said aperture having an outer conical throat;   a plastic clad optical fiber mounted lengthwise in said ferrule and having its cladding terminating within said ferrule; and   said fiber having a bared end portion threaded into said aperture and enlarged at its forward end to fill said conical throat of said aperture thereby centering said bared end portion in said aperture.